Rep. Steve Scalise applauds U.S. withdrawal from Paris climate pact

Posted June 1, 2017 at 5:31 PM

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, praised President Donald Trump's commitment Thursday to withdraw the United States from the international climate agreement known as the Paris Accord. (Robert Rhoden, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune archive)

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, praised President Donald Trump's commitment Thursday to withdraw the United States from the international climate agreement known as the Paris Accord. (Robert Rhoden, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune archive)

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, praised President Donald Trump's commitment Thursday (June 1) to withdraw the United States from the international climate agreement known as the Paris Accord. Here is Scalise's full statement:

"The radical United Nations Paris Accord on global warming is more about wealth redistribution than protecting the environment. It's a plan to allow the U.N. to take control of America's purse strings and take billions of dollars a year away from the United States and send it to other countries under the veil of a misguided global warming agenda, and I applaud President Trump for pulling out of this disastrous agreement.

"While the previous administration expressed open hostility to American manufacturing, it's refreshing that President Trump is focused on putting America first by negotiating sound deals that protect and create American jobs -- including the energy jobs that are so critical to our economy in Louisiana.

"President Trump pledged to American workers that he would put them first, and today's decision demonstrates he's delivering on that promise."

No other member of Louisiana's eight-person congressional delegation immediately released a statement on Trump's announcement. A day earlier, U.S. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he was "neutral on whether we pull out of the Paris Accord."